Bridge and tunnel plan for Morecambe Bay

AN £8.6bn project for a multi-billion pound tidal gateway across Morecambe Bay could be combined with National Grid plans for a tunnel under the bay.

North West Energy Squared (NWE2) has revealed proposals for a project which would be like “an M6 across the bay”, which would create enough electricity for 1.7m homes, with a dual carriagewayrunning along the top connecting Heysham to the Furness peninsular.

National Grid is planning a tunnel under Morecambe Bay to connect electricity from Moorside on the Furness Peninsular to Middleton, near Heysham.

Tidal Energy spokesman Graham Davies, speaking at a display at Morecambe’s Platform detailing NWE2’s proposals, said: “We got in touch with NuGen and National Grid and said ‘why don’t we offer you a route inside our gateways? We were not initially together but we are now discussing the combination of the two. It has got to happen. The project is backed by the North West Business Leaders team who have had meetings in the House of Commons.

“They have met MPs who have been favourable to the idea. I’ve been banging the drum for tidal power for 30 years . This project will help the UK meet its Euro targets in global warming.”